Combined ironing machine and stacker



Aug. 6, 1940. F. J. coucH COMBINED IRONING MACHINE AND STACKER Original Filed June 26, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor FORREST J. COUCH fiw (Ittomegs Aug. 6, 1940. F. J. COUCH COMBINED IRONING MACHINE AND STACKER Original Filed June 26, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lhwentor FORREST J. COUCH Aug. 6, 1940. F J, cQuc 2,210,447

COMBINED IRONING MACHINE AND STACKER Original Filed June 26, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Enventor FORREST J. COUCH attorneys F. J. COUCH COMBINED IRONING MACHINE AND STACKER Aug. 6, 1940.

Original Filed June 26, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FORREST J. COUCH (Ittomegs Aug. 6, 1940. F. COUCH 2210,44?

COMBINED IRONING MACHINE AND STACKER Original Filed June 26, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Snnentor FORREST J. COUCH @?@CM%%V%W (Ittornegs Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES COMBINED IRONING MACHINE AND STACKEB Forrest J. Couch, Rochester, N. Y., assiznor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Nor-wood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application June 2c, 1936, Serial No. 87,346. Divided and this application December as, 1937, Serial No. 182,127

9 Ulaims.

This invention relates to improvements in stacking machines for fabric articles.

In certain laundering processes it is desirable to stack ironed fabric articles in unfolded con- 5 rlition. This is particularly true with respect to handlrerchieis and similar light fabric articles of small size. The machine will he referred to hereinafter as dealing with hancil-zerchiefs for the purpose of illustration out it will be understood m that it do not limit myself any one particular article Machines here o; or the handling of hancllrerchleis after ironing have heel several disadvantages Wnic' is t" purpose of my present invention to overcome. "e of the disadvantages been that no means was provided to handle e handherchiefs rapidly as an operator could er'l them through a mooern ironing machine so Other types of receiving device for liandlzer chiefs after ironing comprise delive on tapes or conveyors to folding and stats operators and here again no arrangement has heen found whereby these operators can handle the handltem chiefs at the same speed as they may be ironed.

A feature of my present invention is an arrangement whereby a very large number, of the nature oi several hundred, of thin fabric articles, such as handkerchieis, may be neatly stacked A Without mussing or wrinkling, without interruption in the process of feeding the articles through an ironing machine. The machine then need be shut down only for a brief period for the removal of the large staclz of finished articles 45 from the stacking device, whereupon the machine may resume operation. This device permits a single operator to iron a large number of handkerchiefs at the full capacity of a modern ironing machine and greatly reduces the labor and. ma- 50 chine hours necessary to finish such articles. Furthermore by such an arrangement operators may be most eflicientlyproportioned to the ironing and folding or bundling operations, or one operator may iron 9. large number of articles and thereafter shut down the ironing machine (Cl. fi -2) and perform the folding and. bundling operations on the finished articles.

Another feature of my present invention is the provision of novel structure for receiving fabric articles direct from an ironing machine and con- 5 veying them to a stacking device. Such features include a novel arrangement of conveying means for conservation of floor space and for the provision of a steaming or? period so that the fabric articles are thoroughly dry when stashed. to

Another feature of my improved stacking n12.- chlzee is an arrangement of oscillating stacking arms adapted to receive an ironed fabric article anti convey it in unvrrlnirlecl condition to the top oi a stack oi such articles.

In oomhination with the arms ne scribed in the preceding para mph my ivcntion provides ovei arrangement of a receiving table for such icles which is operated. co-ordiua tion with Ella. stacking arms so as to maintain 2Q constant level of the pile of stacked articles.

Another feature of my invention the novel arrangement of the conveying device which re ceives fabric a:-.-ticles in ironed condition and carries them to position over arms in such atray that the stacking arms require the minimum movement.

Another novel feature of in; device is the arrangement or? control mechanism for operating the stacking arms which take the ironed articles 3 from the conveyor to place there. in a pile. These novel features include the initiation o. staclt ing arm movement by the trailing edge of a thin fabric article without physical contact with any tripping device, together with means for holding the ialiric articles in a predetermined position until the moment when they are received by the stacking v arm for conveyance to the stacking table. ihis results in stacking the articles with one edge thereof perfectly alinecl with other articles in the pile.

Other novel features oi my invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and specification and the novel features thereof will be pointed out in the claims. 5

Features relating to the stacking device and control means therefor are fully described and claimed in my copenuing application Serial No. 87.3%3, filed. June 26, 1936, of which this appiication is a division.

in the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the stacking machine and an ironing machine coupled together for operation. One of the side penels of the operating parts.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the stacking machine, parts of the rear panel and cover member being broken away to expose the operating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the release clutch mechanism for the stacking table.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental section view taken on the line l of Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmental detail views partly in section showing a portion of the stacking arm operating mechanism in various positions.

Figs. '7 and 8 are fragmental detail views of the clutch mechanism assembly for the stacking arm operating mechanism in two different operating positions.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of the mechanism of Figs. 7'and 8, certain parts being shown in elevation and other parts in section along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view taken substantially along the line iii-4B of Fig. 1 showing in somewhat diagrammatic form operating switches and actuating mechanism therefor.

Fig. 11 is a detail plan view of mechanism for taking up slack in the ironing machine delivery ribbons.

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram of the control and operating circuits.

Fig. 13 is a fragmental view along the line lt-IS of Fig. 4.

The stacking machine is provided with a suitable framework which comprises side frames l and M which are tied together by suitable cross members 2 and housed by side panels 3 and 8a, the latter being hinged or otherwise removably secured to the frame to provide access to the interior of the machine. Suitable longitudinal supporting angles i and 5 are provided on each side of the machine for supporting parts of the operating mechanism.

Conveying mechanism The stacking machine is provided with conveying means for receiving ironed articles from almost any type of ironing machine. For purposes of illustration I have shown a. portion of a machine 6 which is more fully illustrated, described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,925,582, granted September 5, 1933. In this machine fabric articles are ironed by passage between a roll and chest and the ironed articles are then delivered by the conveyor tapes 7 over the rear lip 8 of the ironing machine chest. In combining this ironing machine with my improved stacking machine I have carried the delivery tapes 1 around a roll 9 which is supported in a suitable bracket It on the stacking machine frame. Each of the delivery tapes I is provided with an automatic tightening device I I for taking up the slack therein. These devices are clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 11. The conveyor means in the stacking machine for receiving the ironed articles from the ironing machine comprises a plurality of endless spaced ribbons l2 which pass about the rolls l3, l4, I5, a plurality of pulleys i6, and rolls I1 and I8. These rolls and pulleys are rotatably supported upon suitable brackets rigid with the framework of the stacking machine. Roll I3 is carried by brackets l9. Rolls I 4 and I 8 are carried by brackets l0, roll l8 being adjustable to regulate the tension of the ribbons. Rolls l5 and I! are carried by brackets 20, and the pulleys l8 3,810,447 stacking. machine has been removed to expose theare rigidly mounted on shaft 2! which in turn is supported in brackets 22.

Another set of conveyor ribbons 28 are provided for carrying the articles along the vertical run 24 of the ribbons l2. The ribbons 28 lie opposite the ribbons l2 and in similar spaced relation transversely of the machine. The ribbons Zspass about the rolls it and 25. The roll 28 is rotatably mounted in brackets 20 and is ad- Justable so as to control the tension of the ribbons 28.

For driving the ribbons l2 and 28, motor 26 drives a speed reduction unit ending in sprocket 2? and a chain 28 passes over sprockets 27, 28, 30, Si and 32. Sprocket 29 is adjustably mounted in brackets It so as to take up the slack in chain 28. Sprocket 30 is rotatable with roll l8 and sprocket a! is rotatable with shaft 2|. Sprockets 30 and 3| are of the same diameter, and roll I l and pulley it are the same diameter so, that the tapes i2 and 23 move at the same speed. Sprocket 32 is rotatable on shaft 33 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 38.

It will be noted that the conveyor tapes B2 are adapted to receive articles from the delivery tapes l of the ironing machine and to them convey the articles in a vertically zigzag path which gives a period for steaming off of the ironed articles in case any moisture is still left in them so that they do not wrinkle when stacked. Furthermore by carrying the articles up the vertical run 26! and then moving them down the run 26' they are presented at a steep angle, greater than 45 to the horizontal, in front of the stacking arms which are later to receive and pile the articles. This provides a shorter movement of the stacking arms than would otherwise be necessary, as will be later pointed out.

Stacking arm mechanism A plurality of stacking arms or fly arms 35 are rigidly connected with shaft 36 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 3?. Rigid with shaft 36 is a crank arm 38 to which is pivotally connected a link 39 which in turn is pivotally connected with a crank arm 40, which in turn is rigidly mounted upon the left end of shaft 33 as viewed in Fig. 2. The throw of crank 40 is less than the throw of crank 38 so that one revolution of shaft 33 and crank 40 results in oscillation of crank 38 from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Fig. 6 and back again to the position of Fig. 4. This results in a movement of the stacking arms 35 from their normal position of rest just below. the ribbons l2 as shown in full lines in Fig. 4 to a substantially horizontal position indicated at A in dash-dot lines therein which places an article upon the stacking table M and the arms then return to the full line position of Fig. 4. 7

A snubbing device is provided for the counterclockwise movement of arms 35 as viewed in Fig. 4. This comprises an arm 42 which is rotatably mounted on shaft 36 and which carries an arcuate lug 43 facing toward crank 38. The crank carries an arcuate lug 44 which is adapted to engage lug 43 upon oscillation of crank 38 to the intermediate dot-dash position shown in Fig. 5.

spring 65 is extended as shown in Fig. 6. This ill snubs the action of arms 35 as they approach the position A of Fig. 4. Upon the return of arms 35 to the full line position of Fig. 4 they strike a bumper 46 suitably mounted in the frame.

The stacking arms are oscillated intermittently by the production of a single revolution of shaft 33 at appropriate times as will be later disclosed. The rotation of shaft 33 is provided by means of a one-revolution clutch device best shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. Pinned to shaft 33 is a disk ll which carries a dog member M3 which is pivotally mounted on pin 49 carried by the disk. The dog member is normally biased in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8 by a suitable spring so. This movement is limited by pin ti on disk M. When so biased, as shown in Fig. 8, an arm 68a of the dog member is provided with a suitable lug which engages one of a plurality of roHers 52 which are carried by a disk 53. Disk 53 is part of a unitary structure comprising the said disk, sprocket 32 and flywheel 56. This unit is assembled and held together by bolts 55 and is rotatably mounted upon the extreme end of shaft 33. Thus at such times as the dog member arm itle is in the position of Fig. 8, disks 53 and iii will rotate in unison and shaft 33 will turn the'crank arm at. The dog as is normally held in the inoperative position of Fig. 7 with the arm 380. out of engagement with the rollers 52 by means of a bellcrank member 56. This member has a downwardly extending arm 56a adapted to engage the arm 63?) of dog member 68 as shown in Fig. 7. An arm is pivotallyconnected by link 5? with the plunger 58 of a solenoid 59 suitably mounted on the frame. The arrangement of the parts is such that the bellcrank 56 is normally biased in a counterclockwise direction so that when solenoid 59 is deenergized the arm 56a will normally move into position to engage arm it?) of the dog member and hold the clutch disengaged. Upon energization of the solenoid 5c the parts move to the position of Fig. 8, thus releasing dog member 38 to its biasing means and engaging the clutch. The energization of the solenoid 5Q isonly momentary as will be later described so that armBfia shortly after movement to the position of Fig. 8 returns to the position of Fig. 7 and engages the dog member d8 upon the completion of one revolution of the clutch. An arm 550 on bellcrank 58 engages stops 6d on the frame to limit its movement.

A brake shoe 6i engages disk ll to provide a constant drag thereon so that the disk all stops promptly upon disengagement of the one revolution clutch. The brake shoe is carried on an arm 52 which is pivotally mounted on the frame at $3 and biased against the disk at by a spring t l.

Stacking table The stacking table iii is mounted on a pair of vertical rods 65 which pass through suitable bearings b6 and t? on the frame so that the.

table ii may be lowered and raised as desired. The table is biased in its uppermost position by springs 58 which are connected between rods Ma and a suitable portion of the frame of the machine. Suitable driving mechanism is provided between the stacking arm drive and the rods 85 so as to lower table ll by small increments as articles are stacked on the table M. This drive is so arranged with respect to the thickness of the articles being stacked that the top of the pile on table 4! is always in substantially the same position so as to maintain uniform conditions between the stacking arms and the pile of finished articles. This driving mech- I anism will now be described.

Upon shaft 33 is an eccentric 69 which is connected by a link it with a link it which in turn is rotatably mounted on shaft l2 and carries a dog Ha which engages teeth on the riatchet wheel it which in turn is rigidly mounted on shaft 12. A detent it holds the ratchet wheel it against reverse movement. This mechanism is at the left end of shaft "if as seen in Fig. 2. Upon the right end of shaft l2 and rigid therewith is a pinion it which meshes with a gear it which in turn is rotatably mounted upon a shaft ll. Gear it carries upon its right-hand face as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, clutch teeth 118a which are adapted to engage coacting clutch portions on a clutch member i8 mounted on shaft ill by a key whereby the parts ii and "iii rotate together but the clutch member it is movable axially in shaft iii. A clutch fork iii is pivotally mounted at 8b in a bracket on the frame and engages clutch member iii for actuation there of. The fork is connected by link 8i and crank $2 with an operating pedal at the front of the machine. A spring t l biases the pedal in its upmrrnost position which corresponds to engagement of the clutch members "ii-3 and 66a. Pinned to shaft l'i are pinions which engage racks 65a on rod t5. The above described train of parts is so arranged that upon one revolution of shaft 33 the table M is lowered by substantially the thickness of one of the articles stacked.

When the table ll reaches or approaches its lowermost position or at any time desired by the operator the stacking machine is stopped, the

pile is removed. from table ii and the table is returned again to its uppermost position. This is accomplished by depressing pedal 83 which disengages clutch members 712 and Mia which permits springs 68 to return the table to its uppermost position. This movement is snubbed by springs 86 which are compressed between suitable collars on rods 65 and portions of the frame.

It is desirable to enclose the stacking arms during the operation of the machine and to this end a cover member iii is provided having a front panel him and side arm members 81b which are pivotally connected at 88 with ears 8% on bearing brackets 3?. Stop member iii! on a side arm il'ib of the cover member engages stop member M on the frame when the cover is closed and stop member 92 on the cover member engages stop member 9i when the cover is in open position. Rigid with the cover member side arms are arms @3 which support counterweights to balance the weight of the cover member. The arrangement of the counterweights is such that whether the cover member be open or closed the counterweights tend to maintain it in that position. i As best seen in Fig. a bracket 95 on the cover member portion ii'ib depresses a rod 96 when the cover is in closed position so as to hold a control button 9? suitably positioned on the frame in contact-making position. This control feature insures that the machine can only be operated with the cover in its closed or safe position.

Also shown in Fig. 10 are adjustable contacts 98 and 99 rigidly carried by table M and adapted to engage control buttons tilt and Hit suitably Gil) mounted on the frame.- The contact 88' engages button I to provide a warning signal to the operator as the table approaches its lowermost position so that she is prepared to shut the machine down. Contact 88 engages button I! when the table 4| reaches its lowest point and shuts the. machine down in spite of the operator.

Control and operation The stacking machine as already described is driven by a motor 28 and the ironing machine 8 is driven by motor I02. The 'motor I02 is a multiple speed motor with a speed control range providing travel of articles through the ironer varying from fifteen feet to twenty-four feet per minute. The motor 23 is a single speed and is geared to the ribbon drives to produce a ribbon speed of forty-eight feet per minute, which is double that of the highest speed of the ironer.-

The purpose of this is to insurea sumcient gap between the articles in the stacking machine to permit movement of the stacking arms to the stacking position and return before the next article comes into position for handling. Therefore the articles may be fed into the ironing machine in a continuous stream one immediately after the other with their edges almost touching and the necessary gap to permit stacking is produced by the more rapid speed of the stacking machine conveyor.

The control for initiating the operation of .the stacking arms comprises a pair of light-sensitive cells I03 and I04 suitably mounted on the frame 0! the machine above the conveyor ribbons I2 and spaced apart in the direction of travel of the conveyors. The cells here shown are photronic, that is to say, when exposed to light of suitable intensity an electromotive force is generated which sets up a current in an external circuit sufilcient to operate commercial relays without any amplifying tubes, batteries or auxiliary apparatus. A suitable light source, such as the lamp I05, is adjustably mounted on a bracket I08 beneath the conveyor ribbons I2. A light guard I01 is provided with longitudinal slots W111 and i011). The arrangement of the light-sensitive or photronic cells, the light source and the guard I01 is such that when no articles are passing'along the conveyor, uninterrupted light beams pass from the source I through slot mm, between the ribbons I2 to cell I03, and through slot I01b through the ribbons I2 to cell I04. Referring now to Fig. 12, cells I03 and I04 are connected in a circuit with a polarized relay I08 with their polarities opposed so that when both cells are generating or when both are inactive the relay contact I08a remains in the neutral position shown in Fig. 12. In circuit with the cells is a microammeter I08 and a rheostat I I0. In Fig. 12 are also shown the ironer motor I02, a starting and speed controller III of standard type therefor, the stacker motor 26, a transformer I I2 providing an electrical supply for the stacker control mechanism, a lowvoltage transformer H3, a standard commercial current rectifier N4, the solenoid 58 previously described, and the control buttons 81, I00 and IOI diagrammatically shown. H5 is a signal lamp placed where the operator of the ironing machine may see it. The control circuits comprise power supply lines Li, L2 and Lo connected by switch H6 to the motor circuits 26 and I02. A disconnect switch II1 permits operation of the motor I02 separately for repair and maintenance operations on the ironing machine. Switch 1 is normally closed. A coil "6a serves to hold switch'i I6 in operated position when the coil is energized.

- In the operation of the machine, assuming that table 4| is in its uppermost position and cover member 81 is closed, the operator moves handle IIIa to the position shown in Fig. 12 wherein the conductor IIIb bridges the contacts lo and II Id. .The conductors IIIe are then in the first position inserting all resistance in the rotor circuit and producing a maximum starting torque for the motor I02. Connecting lite and Id establishes a circuit from L1, wire H8, coil 8a, wire H8, normally open button 81 held closed by cover 81, normally closed button IOI, wire I20 and wire I2I to L3. Energizatlon of coil II 8:; closes switch I22 and switch IIB thus starting motor I02. As the operator moves controller handle Ilia clockwise, conductor IIIb bridges contacts I lie and I I Ijwhich through wire I23 and switch I22 keeps coil IIBa energized. Stop members I24 limit the movement of conductor ill!) but continued clockwise movement of controller handle IIIa rotates the conductors IIIe cutting out resistance in the rotor circuit and controlling the speed of the motor I02 as desired. This is a standard type of controller for ironing machines and assures starting with full torque because each time the machine is shut down the controller handle must be moved back to the starting position shown in Fig. 12; This position of the controller provides a means for shutting down both the ironer and stacking machine at the feed end of the ironer.

With both machines in operation, articles are fed into the ironing machine and passing therethrough are picked up by the ribbons I2 and conveyed between ribbons I2 and 23 to the downwardly extending conveyor run 25'. When the forward edge of the article intercepts the light beam between light I05 and cell I03, the balance between cells I03 and I04 is upset. It will be understood that the rheostat H0 is adjusted so that the microammeter I08 is at its neutral point or preferably as shown in Fig. 12 the pointer is slightly to the left of the neutral point, indicating a slight lead in tripping direction. This is for the purpose of insuring operation of the device with the thinnest fabrics. Cell I04 is now generating which causes a fiow of current through wire I25, coil of relay I08, wire I28, ammeter I08, wire I21, rheostat I I0 and wire I28. Flow oi current in this direction through relay I08 causes movement of contact finger I08a toward the right to engage contact point I08b. This is a dead contact and no actuation of mechanism occurs. The deflection of ammeter I08 at this time is toward the right.

As the article advances along the conveyor it finally intercepts the light to both cells which reestablishes a balance between them and brings the contact finger back to the neutral position shown in Fig. 12. As the article advances further so that the light beam to cell I04 is interrupted but the light beam to cell I03 is uninterrupted, the latter cell now becomes the only one generating and current flows through wire I30, rheostat IIO, wire I21, ammeter I08, wire I26, coil of relay I08 and wires I25 and I28. Current now flows through the coil of relay I08 in a direction to deflect contact arm I08a toward the left, making contact at I080. Thisestablishes a circuit from the secondary side of transformer 8 to current rectifier H4 and thence through wire Hi, the coil of power relay I82, wire I33, relay I08 and wire I34 back to the rectifier and transiormer. The primary 0! this transformer receives its supply from the secondary or transformer H2 through wires I35 and N6. Energize.- tion 01 the coil of relay I32 closes the contactor 132a establishing a circuit from the secondary of transformer H2 through wires N6, I81 and I38, contact arm 132a, wire I38, solenoid 59 and wires 0 and I36 back to the transformer H2. Energization or solenoid 59 raises the plunger 58 and trips the one-revolution clutch described in connection with Figs. 7, 8 and 9. This operates the stacking arms and carries the article over to the stacking table and returns the arms to their normal position beneath the conveyor. When the article has been completely removed from the ribbons E2, the light beams again strike both or the light-sensitive cells and establish the condition. of balance which breaks the circuit through contact arm Nita of the polarised relay which in turn breaks the circuit through power relay B82 and deenergizes solenoid t9, thereupon the bellcrank. 5'6 moves in a counterclockwise direction to engage the dog 38 as shown in Fig. l as soon as the clutch has completed one revolution. The light source tilt receives its current supply from the secondary or transformer M2 by way of wires its, iii, it? and ltd.

To insure that the fabric article remains in the proper position upon the run it of the conveyor ribbons it, a roller tilt is supported by arms tilt in rolling contact with an article lying upon ribicons it. The roller Mil is so positioned that the trailing edge of the article handled emerges from contact between the roller and the ribbons substantially at the sametime as the stacking arms are set in operation to deposit the article on the stacking table. It results from this arrangement that the trailing edge of an article is always in definite relation to the stacking arms and each article is placed with its forward edge in alinement with the article next below it.

As the articles are stacked andthe table ti is gradually lowered as previously described, the contact it finally engages button itt which makes a circuit from the secondary of trans former ii?! through wires itti, i377, Mt, iddlamp lit and wires iii and ltd back to the transformer. This lights lamp M5 indicating to the operator that only a certain number of articles (say about twenty) can be fed before the machine will shut itself down. Inasmuch as the average bundle of handkerchiets contains about twelve articles, this is suihcient to finish the bundle upon which she is working. If the table ti is permitted to travel to its extreme lower position, contact 99 engages button iii and opens the circuit through the holding coil Milo. Switch H8 which is normally biased to open position will therefore open and automatically shut down both machines.

When table ti has been loaded with a stack to the full capacity oi the machine, the cover iii is opened to remove the stack of finished articles. This opens button 9i rendering impossible the operation or either machine until the cover is again closed.

Articles may thus be fed continuously through the ironing machine as rapidly as the ironing machine operator can handle them and it will be understood 'that individual bundles may be marked for separation by any marking means which will lend itself to passage through the ironer and the stacking machine, such as a piece of cloth of distinctive size, shape or color.

' What I claim is: 1

1. In combination, a machine for ironing articles red thereto, in series, a table, means adapted for taking articles from said machine and for top-stacking said articles on said table, means for lowering said table as articles are stacked thereon to maintain constant stacking conditions as said stacking progresses, driving means for said ironing machine, and means actuated by movement of said table to its lower limit for rendering said driving means inoperative.

2. In combination, a machine for ironing arti cles ied thereto in series, a table, means adapted for taking articles from said machine and for top-stacking said articles on said table, means for lowering said table as articles are stacked thereon to maintain. constant stacking conditions as said stacking progresses, driving means for said ironing machine and for said stacking means, and means actuated by movement of said table to its lower limit ior rendering said driving means inoperative.

3. In combination, a machine for ironing articles fed thereto in series, a table, means adapted for taking articles from said machine and for top-stacking said articles on said table, means for lowering said table as articles are stacked thereon to maintain constant stacking conditions as said stacking progresses, a motor for driving said ironing machine, an operating circuit for said motor, a control member in said circuit normally in ofi position, maintaining means adapted when energized to hold said con trol member in on position, an energizing circult for said maintaining means, and a control member in said last named circuit normally in circuit energizing position and arranged for movement into circuit deenergizing position by movement of said table to its lower lim t.

d. In combination, a machine for ironing articles ied thereto in series, a table, means adapted for taking articles from said machine. and for top-stacking said articles on said table, means for lowering said table as articles are stacked thereon to maintain constant stacking candl tions as said stacking progresses, signal means a visible to an operator at the feeding and oi said ironing machine, and means for actuating said signal means by movement of said table to a point approaching its lower limit.

5. In combination, a machine ior ironing articles ied thereto in series, a table, means adapted for taking articles from said machine and for top-stacking said articles on said table, a cover for said stacking means, a motor for driving said ironing machine, an operating circuit for said motor, a control member in said circuit normally in ofl" position, maintaining means adapted when energized to hold said control member in on position, an energizing circuit for said maintaining means, and a control member in said last named circuit normally in circuit-de-= energizing position and adapted to be held in circuit energizing position when said cover is closed.

6. In combination, a machine for ironing articles fed thereto in series, a table, means adapted for taking articles from said machine and for top-stacking said articles on said table, a cover for said stacking means, a motor for driving said ironing machine, a motor for operating said first-named means, an operating circuit for said motors, a control member in said circuit normally in off position, maintaining means adapted when energized to hold said control member in on position, an energizing circuit ing means for said ironing and stacking means,

a cover movable between open and closed positions over said stacking means, and means responsive to movement 01' said cover to open position for rendering said driving means inoperative.

8. In combination, a machine for ironing articles fed thereto in series, a table, means adapted for taking articles from said machine and for top-stacking said articles on said table, means for lowering said table as articles are stacked thereon to maintain constant stacking conditions as said stacking progresses, a motor for driving said ironing machine, a motor for operating said first-named means, an operating circuit for said motors, a control member in said circuit normally in "ofl' position, maintaining means adapted when energized to hold said con-. trol member in "on position, an energizing circuit for said maintaining means, and a control member in said last named circuit normally in circuit energizing position and arranged for movement into circuit deenergizing position by movement 01 said table to its lower limit.

9. In combination for handling fabric articles, a machine for ironing articles fed thereto in series including a conveyor having a delivery run, conveying means for receiving articles from said delivery run, said conveying means including ribbons lying in a common plane, means including arms moving through said plane of said conveying means for taking said articles one by one from said conveying means and for top-V stacking said articles in a substantially horizontal position, said arms being adapted to return through said plane to complete a cycle, mean for actuating said last named means responsive to positioning of an article in operative relation with said last named means, and said conveying means having a speed sufllciently greater than that of articles moving through said ironing machine to space said series of articles on said conveying means to permit a cycle of said stacking means for each article even it said articles leave said delivery run with substantially no space between them.

FORREST J. COUCH. 

